Method of making handles for cutlery



ROBERT VALLACE, OF VALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF MAKING HAN-DLES FOR CUTLERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,240, dated July 2 8, 1885.

Application filed December 26, 1884.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WALLACE, of Wallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in the Manufacture of Handles for Table-Cutlery, and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a transverse section through the rolls, showing a longitudinal section of the dies as in the act of taking the blank,the blank with its mandrel shown in broken lines; Fig. 2, a transverse section through the dies at their meeting-point; Fig. 3, a side view ofthe handle complete; Fig. 4, a side View of the blank from which the handle is to be made, Fig. 5, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section of the blank in a vertical plane showing the mandrel therein; Fig. 7a transverse section of the same.

This invention consists in the method hereinafter fully described, and particularly recited in the claims.

In the more general construction of this class of handles they are made in two parts, the handle being divided longitudinally in a central plane parallel with the blade, the meeting edges of the two parts soldered or brazed together. This construction is expensive, and, owing to the fact that the parts are liable to separate in use, is an objectionable form of handle. Such handles have also been made of adrawn tube-like shape-that is to say, a 1 tube closed at one end; but in this construe` tion, while they avoid the objection to a divided handle, they have been necessarily of equal transverse sectional area throughout,an undesirable form of handle, so that whereas the hollow class of handles are desirable for cutlery, owing to the difficulties which I have mentioned, they have been largely superseded by solid metal handles, because in solid metal a shape has been attained gradually tapering from the butt to the bolster, and which is the most desirable shape for such handles, and is that usually adopted for ivory and similar classes of handles for fine cutlery.

(No model.)

The object of my invention is the production of a tubular handle in one single piece, having its butt-end closed,andtapered toward the bolster; and my invention consists in first drawing up a tubular blank, but closed at one end, the closed end being an integral part of the tube, and the tube in transverse section throughout corresponding in shape to a trans verse section of the handle at its largest point, then drawing the tube from the closed end to reduce the diameter from the closed end toward the open end, and as more fully hereinafter described.

I first draw up the blank in sheet metal in flat tubular form, closed at one end and open at the other, and' of the length required for the'handle, in the usual method of drawing up such tubular articles-that is to say, by means of punches and dies. Such a blank is seen in Figs. 4 and 5. In thickness this blank corresponds to the thickness of the handle to be nished,equal throughout. In depth it corresponds to the depth of the handle at the butt, and the oval shape of the butt is given inthe process of drawing, the best form of the handle in transverse section being dat sides with rounded edges. This blank is such a tubular handle as I have before mentioned as made from a single piece, and of equal transverse area throughout. In my improved construction-of handle I now take this blank and roll it into tapering form, as seen in Fig. 3, giving to the handle the requisite shape, gradually tapering from the butt to bolster end, and of uniform shape.

Thebest method for bringing the handle to the shape required, is by means of dies arrangedin rolls. A, Fig. I, represents one roll, and B the other. In the periphery of one roll, a die, C, is arranged, and iii the other roll, B, a companion-die, D, is in like manner arranged. The cavity in the two dies correspends to the shape of the exterior of the handle, the plane of the cavity being at right angles to the axis of the rolls, and as seen in Fig. 2, a representing the cavity in the two parts, one-half in each part. At the forward end of the dies the cavities together in depth correspond to the depth of the handle at the butt-end. From that forward end,rearward,

the depth of the cavities gradually dimin- IOO ishes, according to the taper required for the handle. The width of the cavities corresponds to the thickness of the blank, and is equal throughout. rIhe blank is introduced just as the ends of the dies meet together in a diametrical line through the axis of both rolls,

and as seen in Fig. l, broken lines indicating the blank as thus introduced.

The rolls are revolved in the usual manner for revolving1 this class of rolls, and in the direction indicated by the arrow. The cavities fully embrace Vand inclose the blank at the active part of the roll, and so that,as the rolls revolve, they gradually compress the metal of the blank, reducing its depth toward the bolster or narrower end, the blank following through with the dies, it being delivered at the opposite end in shape, as seen in Fig. 3.

Before introducing the blank to the rolls, I prepare amandrel, b, which in thickness corresponds to the distance between the two sides of the blank, but in depth is less than the depth of the blank-that is, not greater than the depth of the smallest end of the handle when finished. This mandrel I insert in the blank, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7; also seen in broken. lines, Fig. l. It lits closely within the blank, and while it permits the contraction verticallythat is, edgcwise or in depth of the blank--it prevents any contraction or displace ment of the metal of the sides of the handle; hence wrinkling or buckling7 under the edgewise pressure of the dies cannot occur, and the handle comes 'from the dies smooth and perfect throughout.

By this method I am enabled to produce a handle, which,in shape,corresponds to the liner class of handles-such as ivory-much lighter than solid-metal handles, and without the objections of hollow handles as heretofore produced. The drawing operation lengthens the blank to a considerable extent, so that the blank should be made as much shorter than the ultimate length as the process lengthens the blank.

I do not claim, broadly, contracting a straight tubular blank, one end of which is closed, and from the said closed end to produce a tapered handle, as such I am aware is not new.

I claimy l. The method herein described,of making tapered tubular handles for cutlery, consisting in first forming a blank of flattened tubular shape closed at one end, the transverse section of said blank corresponding in form to that of the transverse section of the finished handle at the butt7 then passing said blank between roller-dies to gradually contract its depth from the butt or closed end toward the open or bolster end, substantially as described.

2. The method herein described for forming tapered hollow or tubular handles for table-cutlery,in which the butt end of the handle is closed,consisting in introducing a man-Y drel into the open end of the blank, the said mandrel being in thickness equal to the distance between the two sides ot' the blank,but in depth no greater than the opening'in the end ofthe handle when iinished, then passing the said blank with the mandrel therein between roller-dies, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT WALLACE. Vitnesses:

J oHN E. EARLE, Jos. C. EARLn. 

